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    Category Biology/Biotechnology

    Preventing of Cardiac Failure in the Chronic Phase

    January 25, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Congestive heart failure (CHF) after acute myocardial infarction. Credit: Image courtesy of Osaka University

    Congestive heart failure (CHF) after acute myocardial infarction. Credit: Image courtesy of Osaka University

    The onset of cardiac failure after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a serious problem throughout the world. Researchers at Osaka University clarified cell adhesion inhibition of periostin1 damages myocardinal cells, inducing compromised cardiac myocyte contractile force and myocytes death, leading to the onset of cardiac failure after AMI through the administration of periostin neutralizing antibodies they had developed on their own.

    If the onset of cardiac failure in the chronic phase can be inhibited by this group’s research results that will not only improve patients’ quality of life, but also reduce high medical costs of cardiac failure treatment as a whole.

    AMI generates me...

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    Rotation Speed may be bad news for Mars pioneers

    January 25, 2016, Categories  Astronomy/Space, Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    We really can’t have our astronauts getting loopy after just a few weeks on-planet, though, so researchers have been trying to find a way to re-program the body’s sleep cycle to the Martian standard. One method showing promise is the use of light-therapy — not just using bright light to knock the rhythm off kilter, but using the light’s specific wave-length as well. Extending the human sleep cycle might be as simple as exposing an astronaut to pale blue light at the end of their day. They hope to continue their research and determine which wavelengths have have an effect and what that is at different times of the day.

    We really can’t have our astronauts getting loopy after just a few weeks on-planet, though, so researchers have been trying to find a way to re-program the body’s sleep cycle to the Martian standard. One method showing promise is the use of light-therapy — not just using bright light to knock the rhythm off kilter, but using the light’s specific wave-length as well. Extending the human sleep cycle might be as simple as exposing an astronaut to pale blue light at the end of their day. They hope to continue their research and determine which wavelengths have have an effect and what that is at different times of the day. http://www.geek.com/science/mars-explorers-may-suffer-never-ending-jet-lag-1616740/

    New research reveals the importance of a circadian body clock that matches the r...

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    Fiber-rich Diet may Reduce Lung Disease

    January 24, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Variety of fiber-rich foods. Credit: ATS

    Variety of fiber-rich foods. Credit: ATS

    A diet rich in fiber may not only protect against diabetes and heart disease, it may reduce the risk of developing lung disease, according to new research. Analyzing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, researchers report in “The Relationship between Dietary Fiber Intake and Lung Function in NHANES,” that among adults in the top quartile of fiber intake:
    • 68.3% had normal lung function, vs 50.1% in the bottom quartile
    • 14.8% had airway restriction, vs 29.8% in the bottom quartile.

    In 2 important breathing tests, those in the top quartile had a greater lung capacity (FVC) and could exhale more air in one second (FEV1)r.

    “Lung disease is an important public health problem, so it’s important to identify modifiable risk...

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    Brain levels of Vitamin B12 decrease with Age and are Prematurely low in people with Autism and Schizophrenia

    January 24, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Cobalamin-related redox metabolic pathways in neuronal cells. Endocytosis brings TC-bound Cbl species to lysosomes where axial ligands are removed by MMACHC and MeCbl or AdoCbl are subsequently formed by SAM and ATP-dependent pathways, respectively. MeCbl is a required cofactor for methionine synthase, whose activity supports a large number of methylation reactions, including DNA methylation, as well as dopamine-stimulated phospholipid methylation, carried out by the D4 dopamine receptor (D4R). AdoCbl supports MMACoA mutase in mitochondria. Cysteine, which is rate-limiting for GSH synthesis, can be provided either by cellular uptake via the cysteine/glutamate transporter EAAT3 (excitatory amino acid transporter 3) or by transsulfuration of HCY via cystathionine. The latter pathway is restricted in human brain, increasing the importance of growth factor-dependent cysteine uptake by EAAT3.

    Cobalamin-related redox metabolic pathways in neuronal cells. Endocytosis brings TC-bound Cbl species to lysosomes where axial ligands are removed by MMACHC and MeCbl or AdoCbl are subsequently formed by SAM and ATP-dependent pathways, respectively. MeCbl is a required cofactor for methionine synthase, whose activity supports a large number of methylation reactions, including DNA methylation, as well as dopamine-stimulated phospholipid methylation, carried out by the D4 dopamine receptor (D4R). AdoCbl supports MMACoA mutase in mitochondria. Cysteine, which is rate-limiting for GSH synthesis, can be provided either by cellular uptake via the cysteine/glutamate transporter EAAT3 (excitatory amino acid transporter 3) or by transsulfuration of HCY via cystathionine...

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